Constitutional amendment (first reference);marriage. Proposes the repeal of the constitutional amendmentdealing with marriage that was approved by referendum at the November2006 election. That amendment to the Bill of Rights (i) defines marriage as "only a union between one man and one woman"; (ii) prohibits theCommonwealth and its political subdivisions from creating or recognizing"a legal status for relationships of unmarried individuals that intendsto approximate the design, qualities, significance, or effects ofmarriage"; and (iii) prohibits the Commonwealth or its politicalsubdivisions from creating or recognizing "another union, partnership,or other legal status to which is assigned the rights, benefits,obligations, qualities, or effects of marriage." The provisions ofthis section of the Constitution of Virginia are no longer validas a result of the United States Supreme Court decision in Obergefellv. Hodges, 576 U.S. ___ (June 26, 2015).
Sponsored bills
Underground utility facilities; Fairfax County. Removes the sunset on a pilot program allowing a locality that has adopted the urban county executive form of government (Fairfax County) to request an electric utility to place underground electric distribution lines as part of a transportation infrastructure improvement project and changes a number of provisions in the program including (i) expanding the scope to include electric cooperatives, telecommunications providers, cable providers, and other utilities; (ii) expanding the scope to include all underground facilities; (iii) making negotiable in the agreement the costs of relocating the facilities; (iv) placing additional limits on the levy to fund the project and the types of projects for which it may be imposed; and (v) authorizing the locality to secure necessary permits on behalf of the utility or provider.
Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act; tenant remedies for exclusion from dwelling unit, interruption of services, or actions taken to make premises unsafe. Provides that a general district court shall enter an order upon petition by a tenant that his landlord has (i) removed or excluded the tenant from the dwelling unit unlawfully, (ii) interrupted or caused the interruption of an essential service to the tenant, or (iii) taken action to make the premises unsafe for habitation. The bill allows entry of a preliminary order ex parte to require the landlord to allow the tenant to recover possession of the dwelling unit, resume any such interrupted essential service, or fix any willful actions taken by the landlord or his agent to make the premises unsafe for habitation if there is good cause to do so and the tenant made reasonable efforts to notify the landlord of the hearing. The bill requires that any ex parte order entered shall further indicate a date for a full hearing on the petition that is no later than 10 days from the initial hearing date. Finally, the bill provides that, at a full hearing on such petition and upon proper evidence presented, the tenant shall recover actual damages, the greater of $5,000 or four months' rent, and reasonable attorney fees.
Retail sales and transient occupancy taxes on room rentals. Provides that retail sales and hotel taxes on transient room rentals shall be computed on the basis of the total charges or the total price paid for the use or possession of the room. For those cases in which a hotel or similar establishment contracts with an intermediary to facilitate the sale of the room and the intermediary charges the customer for the room and such facilitation efforts, the bill requires the intermediary to separately state the taxes on the bill or invoice provided to the customer and to collect the taxes based upon the total charges or the total price paid for the use or possession of the room. The bill provides that an estimated amount equivalent to the sales tax revenue attributable to the charge for the service provided by the intermediary shall be dedicated to the Virginia Tourism Authority to administer grants for tourism promotion.
Local stormwater assistance; flood mitigation and protection. Authorizes grants from a local Stormwater Management Fund to be used for flood mitigation and protection measures that are part of a comprehensive flood mitigation and protection plan adopted by the locality, and requires such grants, where practicable, to prioritize projects that include nature-based practices. Current law allows such funds to be used only for the construction, improvement, or repair of a stormwater management facility or for erosion and sediment control.
Board of Local and Regional Jails; review servicesprovided to inmates during pregnancy, pregnancy termination, labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery; report. Directsthe Board of Local and Regional Jails (the Board), in consultationwith a stakeholder work group, to (i) identify and analyze all obstetricand gynecological services and any other services provided by localand regional jails to inmates during pregnancy, pregnancy termination,labor and delivery, and postpartum recovery; (ii) compare such servicesto best practices recommended by the American Correctional Association,American Jail Association, National Commission on Correctional HealthCare, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; and(iii) develop recommendations to ensure that proper services areprovided to inmates during pregnancy, pregnancy termination, laborand delivery, and postpartum recovery. The bill directs the Boardto (a) post its findings and recommendations on its website and reportsuch findings and recommendations to the Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security and the Chairmen of the Senate Committee onthe Judiciary, Senate Committee on Rehabilitation and Social Services,House Committee for Courts of Justice, and House Committee on PublicSafety by July 1, 2022, and (b) adopt regulations consistent withits findings and recommendations.
Abolition of the death penalty. Abolishes the death penalty, including for those persons currently under a death sentence. The bill provides that no person may be sentenced to death or put to death on or after its effective date for any violation of law.
Department of Veterans Services; Military Spouse Liaison; position created. Establishes the position of Military Spouse Liaison (the Liaison) in the Department of Veterans Services to conduct outreach and advocate on behalf of military spouses in the Commonwealth. The bill directs the Liaison to report by December 1 of each year through the Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Services to the Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the Governor, and the General Assembly on the work of the Liaison and any legislative recommendations. The provisions of the bill are contingent on funding in a general appropriation act.
Pharmaceutical processors; cannabis products.Permits pharmaceutical processors to produce and distribute cannabisproducts other than cannabis oil. The bill defines the terms "botanicalcannabis," "cannabis product," and "usable cannabis." The bill requiresthe Board of Pharmacy to establish testing standards for botanical cannabis and botanical cannabis products, establish a registrationprocess for botanical cannabis products, and promulgate emergency regulations to implement the provisions of the bill. The bill allowsthe Board of Pharmacy to assess and collect a one-time botanicalcannabis regulatory fee from each pharmaceutical processor, not toexceed $50,000, to cover costs associated with the implementationof the provisions of the bill, including costs for new personnel,training, promulgation of regulations and guidance documents, andinformation technology.
Genetic counseling; conscience clause. Repealsthe conscience clause for genetic counselors who forgo participatingin counseling that conflicts with their deeply held moral or religiousbeliefs, provided that they inform the patient and offer to directthe patient to the online directory of licensed genetic counselorsmaintained by the Board of Medicine. The law being repealed alsoprohibits the licensing of any genetic counselor from being contingentupon participating in such counseling.